Protect the Integrity and Funding of the Head Start Program

Childcare costs prevent parents from starting further education, blocking career advancement and economic mobility for families

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sent a letter to Head Start program recipients, amplifying President Trump’s executive order on r...

Child‑welfare navigators presented a draft Child Welfare Early Learning Navigator guide designed to help providers avoid authorization gaps and payment delays when children move between child‑welfare payments and Working Connections subsidy.

The state allocates funds to enhance childcare subsidies and reduce pre-K class sizes.

SMC Corporation proudly announces its Kurumin Certification, marking its commitment to promoting work-life balance and supporting employees with childcare responsibilities.

Join Mardi Winder, host of UnDoing We, as she welcomes Brynn Ungerleider, Founder of Premier Nanny Network, to explore an often-overlooked form of divorce support—getting reliable help with everyday family and household responsibilities. From childcare and transportation to household management and changing schedules, Brynn shares how professional support can reduce stress, create greater stability for children, and give divorcing parents more time and energy to focus on important decisions. Most importantly, asking for help isn’t a failure—sometimes it’s one of the smartest ways to support yourself and your family through change.  Streamed on www.NEWStreamingNetwork.com  Connect with Mardi: Email: Mardi@poscs.com Website: divorcecoach4women.com More about Guest Brynn: Brynn Ungerleider turned an early love of babysitting into a 20+ year career in nannying and household management. Throughout her career, she has helped children recognize their potential while supporting parents through the joys and challenges of family life. She founded Premier Nanny Network to provide dependable, professional support for career-driven parents, divorced families, and families navigating life’s many transitions.  To connect with Brynn: Website: www.premiernannynetwork.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/brynn-ungerleider-a123ba30a/@premiernannynetwork

Vermont expands childcare financial assistance, eliminating co-pays for many families and raising reimbursement rates.

Tony Dubet introduced Rhonda, a regional mobility manager with NEMT experience who said targeted mobility management and public outreach are essential for millage support; Economic Development Corporation staff told commissioners they are prioritizing revolving-loan funding to expand child-care capacity and noted Kellogg Foundation support.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican candidate for New York governor, told BronxNet viewers he would prioritize public safety, oppose current state criminal-justice policies and offer targeted childcare tax credits; he criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul's fiscal priorities and urged New Yorkers to support his campaign.

Council central staff told the Select Budget Committee that the Department of Education and Early Learning’s 2026 proposed budget assumes a potential Families, Education and Preschool (FEP) levy renewal that would generate about $1.3 billion over six years and that the council can set priorities ahead of DEAL’s March implementation and evaluation (

CNM vice president Olivia Padilla Jackson told the Legislative Finance Committee about CNM’s FY27 investments: a modern student information system, a film and digital media center opening Sept. 1, a transportation technology center, a quantum technician boot camp supported by a state appropriation, and a Briante Early Learning Center to serve up to 70 CNM families.

In his budget address, County Executive Ryan McMahon proposed expanding children and family services with additional caseworkers in suburban districts, continuing a three‑tier mental‑health support system (over $30 million invested since the pandemic), and funding to aid an additional 1,000 families and 2,000 children with childcare in 2027.

The Department of Early Education and Care told its board the FY27 General Appropriation Act funds the agency at $1.84 billion — a roughly 10% increase year over year — while noting a $17 million gap from the governor's filing and operational and CPPI reductions that will require management.

Experts told the committee that projected reimbursement increases could add about $1.1 million annually to Buncombe County childcare providers and ease cost pressures that have forced closures and reduced capacity.

Panelists said up to $75 million in federal disaster recovery funding is available statewide for childcare recovery; DCDEE has developed a portal and is preparing RFAs for provider applications this fall.

The board approved a resolution to ask voters to authorize increasing the county lodging tax from 2% up to 6% on Nov. 3, 2026, to fund infrastructure, public safety, childcare, housing for tourism workers and marketing. Commissioners debated outreach, legal sufficiency and impacts on short-term rentals before passing the measure.

State Sen. June Robinson told an editorial-board forum the income tax revenue phases in and is intended to expand the working-families tax credit and fund education and health services; she acknowledged tough budget choices but said the tax reforms aim to make Washington's tax code less of an outlier.

Panelists told Buncombe County’s early‑education committee that a new state subsidy floor, paired with roughly $97 million in recurring federal CCDF funds, will raise provider reimbursements starting Oct. 1 and could meaningfully reduce program closures and increase enrollment.